Automatic means for manipulating and controlling the catches of umbrellas



Jan. 12 192 1,569,447

A. D. AYRES AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR MANIPULATING AND CONTROLLING THECA'I'GHES OY' NEWS Filgd Dec. 16. 1921 a citizen of the United States,residing at Patented Jan. 12, 1926 umran STATES PATENT "ANDRUSD. mums.0F 'xsnnrm zoo, 'MI'GI-I'IGAH;

AUTOMATIG MEANS FOR MANI'PULAEING ANE CONTROLLING THE CATCHES OF'.

. I UK-BERLEIILAKS.

Application filed samb as, 1921. Serial no. 522.812.

To all whom ii Indy concern:

Be it known that 1, Airl nes D. AYBEs,

the city and county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, [have inventedcertain new'and useful Improvements in Automatic Means for Manipulatingand "Controlling the Catches of Umbrellas, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improved automatic means for manipulating andcontrolling the catches of umbrellas.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to provide such a structure which can be readily applied as anattachment to the usual form of umbrella now in use.

Second, to provide an improved structure with effective control for boththe upper and lower catches.

Further objects, and objects pertaining to details and economies ofconstruction and operation will definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow.

I accomplish the objects of the invention 7 by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out inthe claim.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisapplication, in which:

Fig. I is a detail view of the handle portion of an umbrella with therunner control sleeve in the lowered position. I

Fig. II is an enlarged detail sectional view on a line corresponding toline 22 of Fig. I, showing the relation of the control sleeve to thecatch when in the lowered position.

Fig. III is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line33 of Fig. II, showing the control sleeve in the up position, theposition of the upper catch thus appearing.

Fig. IV is a detail view of the sheet metal blanks from which myimproved control sleeves are formed.

In the drawing the sectional views are taken looking in the direction ofthe little arrows at the ends of the section lines and similar numeralsof reference refer to similar arts throughout the several views.

T e parts of the drawing will be considered by their numbers. 1 is thestick.

2 .is the usual rxmnerzcarrying the spreader nut-3 at its upper end.This runner 2-0011 tains the'slot 4 for engagement with the usuallowercatch ;5, -see II. The upper catch .6 engages underneath the runner, asappears inFig. III. I

Disposed about thenrunner is the control sleeve 7 having an enlargedfPOItlOIl 8 at its upper end conformed to the sloping portion of thecatch 5 and contracted sharply to the engaging ortion 9, the lowerportion being expanded at 10 and conformed to the sloping portion of theupper catch 6 and with an inclined portion 11 contracting to theengaging portion 9.

The engaging portion 9 fits snugly the runner 2, but slides freelythereon and is of such length that considerable movement is possiblefrom the lowermost position to the upper position against the spreadernut 3. The lower end has a close engaging portion 12 thatsimilarlypasses up and down upon the stick.

The sleeve is preferably made in two symmetrical halves having engaginghook portions 13 at each end adapted to fit into corresponding recesseslat in the opposite half.

The central engaging portions 9 are notched with square notches to guideand locate the parts in position. These hooked and notched portionsenable the structure to be readily snap ed upon the runner and stick ofan umbrel a, so that the devices can be very readily applied as anattachment.

Where the runner is being installed at the time of the manufacture ofthe umbrellas the halves may be brazed or welded together insuring aslightly better finish than is possible with the attachment.

With my improved control sleeve in place the catches will be operatedautomatically by pushing or pulling upon the controlv sleeve.

A glance at Fig. II where the structure is shown in the lowered positionwill show that by grasping the control sleeve and it is desired to lowerthe umbrella it is grasped and pulled down when the upwardly contractedportion 11 rides upon the catch 6 and depresses the same so that theumbrella can be pulled down and the catch depressed automatically bythat operation.

My improved sleeve gives a very superior finish to the runner providingan eifective hand hold therefor. I have indicated that the same can beconsiderably modified and I desire to claim the invention specificallyand broadly as pointed out in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

The combination With the runner and stick and catches of an umbrella, ofa control sleeve composed of opposed longitudinal symmetrical halves,having a contracted central portion adapted to fit and slide upon thelower portion of said runner, and a lower portion contracted to fit andslide upon the stick of the umbrella, and enlarged portions toaccommodate the catches of the umbrella, with abruptly inclined portionsat the center to automatically actuate the said catches when the controlsleeve is pushed up or pulled down, locating lug means at the contractedcentral portion, and dovetail engaging means toward each end, asspecified.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ANDRUS D. AYRES. -1

